Biovotion goes Kilimanjaro

August 05, 2016

VSM1 on action - Biovotion goes Kilimanjaro, VSM1 makes its way to Africa’s highest mountain in a scientific expedition led by the Mayo Clinic and Conrad Anker from North Face

The core group of Mayo Clinic researchers that moved their lab to the base camp at Mount Everest to study heart disease and aging are at it again, this time in Africa. Along with a party of nearly 35, they will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, obtaining scientific data from the climbers along the way. Led by Mayo physiologist Bruce Johnson, Professor of Medicine and Physiology and extreme physiology researcher, the group will monitor climbers’ heart rates, oxygen saturation, movement, energy expenditure, skin temperature and the quality of their sleep. They’ll also conduct ultrasound scanning to determine differences in younger and older climbers as they react to the altitude. Biovotion’s VSM1 will be used to monitor physiology on the group during the entire climb, delivering valuable insights into the effects of altitude, treatment and cardiac challenge. “It’s about comparing heart and lung function in this natural laboratory. We want to check on limitations to their functioning and whether or not a vitamin B3 supplement can help them.” says Dr. Issa, one of Mayo’s researcher. Read: "Mayo Clinic Takes Medical Research to Kilimanjaro" on Advancing the Science blog.
Furthermore, Mayo will have eight in its research group. Everest mountaineer Conrad Anker of equipment sponsor The North Face, will lead the climb. In addition to Thorne Research, there will be individuals from Philips with equipment and analysis, and Biovotion, members of documentary production company Seadog -- and a team from Griffith University in Australia. Also along will be Linda Wortman, cancer survivor and Mayo Clinic lung transplant patient.
The climbers have now arrived in Tanzania and begin their ascent on the 7th August, to return in ten days. We will be reporting regularly from this expedition. You can find blog entries on the Biovotion webpage and follow on Twitter, where Climbers will be reporting their progress via #kiliclimb2016.